FOLEY, Ala. — For the second year in a row, the City of Foley permitted 77 single family residential units. The difference between 2009 and 2008, however, is that in 2008 two duplex and 40 multi-family residential units were also permitted, bringing the total number of residential units to 119. Last year, no duplex or multi-family units were permitted in the city.

The 2009 Annual Report of the Community Development Department was presented to the mayor and city council this week by CDD Department Head Miriam Boutwell. The report is a reflection of the economic recession and curtailment of the building boom that had been a part of the city landscape for more than a decade.

CDD consists of Planning & Zoning, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental and Inspections divisions.

The number of residential units permitted in 2009 stands in stark contrast to the 755 total units permitted in the post-Ivan year 2005. Of the total number of units in 2005, 553 were single-family residences.

The 2009 Annual Report shows that the CDD issued 903 permits at a total construction valuation of $15.6 million and collected $184,539 in fees. Those figures compare to 2008 when 1,328 permits were issued at a total construction valuation of $37.3 million and $442,789 was collected in fees.

City inspectors performed 5,997 inspections in 2008 and 3,022 in 2009.

“Realistically, I think we’re still in for a slow time,” Mayor John Koniar said in comments concerning CDD’s 2009 Annual Report and what he forsees for 2010.

“A flat 2010 — that’s what we budgeted for,” he said.

Koniar said the city is holding its own with revenues and city fathers are holding down spending.

The mayor noted that housing starts in the city for January 2010 looked a lot better than January 2009. That year, zero single family residences were permitted while last month 12 were.

While the city has thus far been able to avoid laying off any employees, Koniar was asked if layoffs might be a possibility during 2010. He said “no layoffs are on the horizon” at this point. He also said employment is the key to getting the economy nationally and locally to pick up.

Koniar points to a number of “encouraging things” taking place in the city, one of those being the coming of Wolf Bay Lodge. National retail stores are also coming to the city, he said.

“I’d be more optimistic if small businesses start turning out,” Koniar said.

According to the CDD’s 2009 Annual Report, the city issued seven new commercial permits at a total construction valuation of $2.2 million.

For the second year in a row no residential subdivisions were given preliminary or final approval by the Foley Planning Commission.